Tue Oct 21 09:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Lions Legend Barry Sanders Opens Up About Heart Attack, Inspiring Current RBs

DETROIT – Detroit Lions Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders is opening up about a health scare he experienced in the summer of 2024, a heart attack that served as a wake-up call and has further strengthened his connection with the team’s current running backs, Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.

During Father’s Day weekend, Sanders, 57, felt a burning sensation in his chest that he initially dismissed. He even continued with plans to attend a football recruiting trip with his son. However, the persistent pain led him to the emergency room, where doctors revealed he had suffered a heart attack.

“I thought it was like heartburn or a pulled muscle or something,” Sanders told ESPN. His risk factor was high LDL cholesterol.

The experience prompted Sanders to prioritize his health, adopting a treatment plan that includes exercise, dieting, and medication. He is also using his platform to raise awareness about heart health, including participating in “The Making of a Heart Attack” documentary.

Meanwhile, Sanders’ presence around the Lions organization has increased, particularly as an influence on Gibbs and Montgomery. The running backs see Sanders’ Hall of Fame career as an example of the high standard to which they are striving. Gibbs and Montgomery continue to look to Sanders’ Hall of Fame career as an example.  Sanders developed relationships with each shortly after they joined the Lions in the spring of 2023. And they say his increased presence around the organization has served as a constant reminder of the lofty standard he set in the Lions’ backfield.

The admiration is mutual. During a recent practice, Sanders was seen carefully observing Gibbs and Montgomery, praising their performance. “David Montgomery runs tough and just fits perfectly with this offensive line, who’s tough and physical and creates those lanes,” Sanders said. “Gibbs is faster and just the suddenness in his game and how he’s so great in open space and also just shifty. I feel like last year was definitely his coming-out party, and I’m excited to see what he does this year.”

With Sanders’ inspiration and guidance, Gibbs and Montgomery are aiming for a historic season, striving to not only honor the legacy of one of the greatest running backs of all time, but also to create their own.

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